Smail Brace Helps Quins Win

After a bonus point win over Old Is last week, the 1s knew that they needed another 4-try victory to keep up the pressure on high-flying Mill Hill. Although Cuffley started the day a place above Quins in second, having won the away fixture in November we were confident of success.

At their place, Cuffley played a team of big lads who were willing to run hard but ultimately ran out of puff against Quins’ expansive running game. On a rock hard pitch and with the sun on our backs, surely this game was therefore a foregone conclusion.

Quins kicked off and the opening gambits produced a tense affair. What was clear however was that this was a very different Cuffley team; far more willing and able to spin the ball wide.

With the set piece fairly evenly matched and impressive defence from both XVs, the first score was always likely to go to whichever team could string together sufficient phases.

After fully 20 minutes, it was Quins who broke the deadlock; George Jaques’ long miss pass putting Michael Barrell in enough space out wide to saunter over the line. George converted and it was 7-0.

In what proved to be typical of the game, Cuffley came back strongly and within five minutes had a converted try of their own. 7-7 and Quins needed to switch on. First up tackles needed to be made and defence around the fringes needed tightening.

From the kick off, Quins were able to respond quickly. A great break by Michael Barrell down the right wing took us within close range of the Cuffley tryline. As Michael was brought down by his opposite number, Alec Smail was on hand for the simple offload to score. George again added the extras to make it 14-7.

With maybe five minutes of the half remaining, it looked as if Quins would change ends with something of a cushion. As the game continued to seesaw however, Cuffley struck back and were able to add another 5-pointer of their own. With the conversion missed, the half-time whistle blew with the score 14-12.

In such a tight game, it was clear that both teams wanted to make the next score knowing that it could be vital. It was Cuffley who first added points, their kicker landing a penalty to make it 14-15. For the first time in the game, Quins were behind.

The match continued to ebb and flow with a mixture of handling errors and resolute scramble defences meaning that the scoreboard didn’t change for the next 10 minutes. In addition, a number of promising attacks from Cuffley were disrupted through lineout steals from Sean Gorman. The turning point came however with a moment of vision.

As Quins attacked the left-hand corner, Cuffley gave away a penalty a few yards out from their line. In the process, their 9 had also sustained a head injury and therefore there was a break in play whilst he was assessed and removed from the field.

During this enforced pause, Quins debated whether to go for the corner or (in such a tight game) to take the three points on offer. Having elected to be daring, the pack then had time to deliberate over which clever lineout move they would use.

As the ref blew his whistle to restart the game, the forwards were starting their walk towards the lineout. George however had spotted that Cuffley had not yet set their defensive line. Rather than kick for touch, he took a quick tap, span the ball to Paul Hibbert, on to Alec Smail in the centres who had the space, pace and strength to bundle over for a try. Despite protestations from Cuffley’s bench, the try stood and after George’s conversion, we were up 21-15 with around 20 minutes to go.

Knowing that Mill Hill started the day five points ahead in the league, Quins needed to press for a fourth try. If anything however, Cuffley were coming back into the game and much of the last quarter was spent in Quins’ half.

One sustained period of Cuffley pressure led to a penalty 20 yards out. They gratefully took the points to ensure a tense finale to the game. 21-18 and whoever won would be the only team with a chance of knocking Mill Hill off top spot in the league.

Cuffley continued to attack, perhaps hoping that they could score a couple of tries in the last 10 minutes to give themselves a bonus point win. As the clock wound down, Cuffley players were twice held up over the Quins line and in the final minute were camped within five metres.

With two minutes to go, Quins had to defend a 5-metre scrum with an injury to Harry Stark (now having moved to blindside flanker). Quins' eight did enough to ensure that Cuffley couldn’t get the pushover try and at the ensuing ruck, great jackling by Paul Hibbert won the ball for George to pump into touch and end the game.

All in all an engrossing match which could have gone either way. At times, Quins showed some classy touches in attack and solidity in defence but we need to maintain our intensity for the full 80 minutes.

In the end however, it was all moot. Mill Hill easily beat Old Is and in doing so won the league with a week to spare. That said, whilst the best we can hope for is therefore second place, with a final game away at league strugglers Uxbridge whilst our nearest rivals Cuffley play Mill Hill, second is certainly a possibility.

Men of the Match: Joe Watkins & Sean Gorman